If you’re lucky enough to get a ticket before it sells out–go for it! Blue Oyster Cult is on a rigorous tour schedule going into 2020. We were fortunate to see BOC in an intimate venue in Southern California, The Belly Up Tavern, and of course, it sold out early on. It was easy to see why when they stepped onto the stage. The opening was dramatic, as they immediately connected with the audience with everyone on their feet and clapping. I was in awe of the guitar greatness and felt we were in for quite the ride.
Die-hard New Yorkers, Blue Oyster Cult began their journey in 1967. They went through a few names and bandmates but settled on Blue Oyster Cult in 1971, which originated from a poem their manager, Sandy Pearlman, had written about a group of aliens who had been designated to secretly guide Earth’s history. Just maybe, Mr. Pearlman was getting a psychic download for this hard rock band which has stood the test of time as a running theme throughout their music and cover art.
Founding member, Donald Roeser “Buck Dharma”, playing lead guitar and vocals, wrote many of the songs which made BOC popular. He has a penchant for guitars such as the Steinberger, Gibson SG, and Fender Stratocaster. He is now endorsing Kiesel Guitars playing a headless Vader 6.
Joining the band early on, Eric Bloom, is the lead vocalist, as well as rhythm guitar and keyboards, and showman extraordinaire. He has co-written many songs that catapulted the band into orbit, such as (Don’t Fear) The Reaper in 1976. He originally did sound engineering for the group and eventually became their stage manager before joining the band in 1969 when their then lead singer dropped out.
Richie Castellano on keyboards, guitar, backing vocals (2007–present), bass guitar (2004–2007). Richie actually served as BOC’s sound engineer on their Germany tour and shortly thereafter joined the band. He has won prestigious awards for songwriting and holds a master’s degree in music.
Danny Miranda, bass and backup vocals, joined the band in 1995-2004 then left to play in Vegas with Queen and eventually went on tour with Queen and Paul Rogers in 2005/2006. I was actually at that concert and it’s a show I will never forget. He also toured with Meatloaf for a time but rejoined BOC in 2017. Also, a noted songwriter with his contribution to a song he wrote, “Too Good to Be Hungry” of the band’s album entitled, Curse of the Hidden Mirror.
Jules Radino, drummer for BOC since 2004 rounds out the band with his extraordinary talent. He is well known by the drum industry with many endorsements to his credit. He also gives private lessons in his New York studio or online through Skype. How cool is that? He also is available for laying down tracks for various projects.
As you can see, all these guys are accomplished musicians in their own right–which is why they sounded so damn good! You can’t fake the sophistication Blue Oyster Cult exhibited. I definitely have a new appreciation for this band and am glad I got to hear them live after all these years later. This is what I consider “real” rock n roll. I was relieved it wasn’t too loud. They didn’t allow “Cell Phone” photos either. It was nice to experience a show without having someone holding up a cell phone. I also expected it to be “an older crowd”, but to my surprise, there was a wide age group range in the audience.
The band members all dressed in black looking cool but not “cultish” dark and creepy. They kicked off the beginning of the show with a beer song “Raise Your Glass” A Capella then we were off and running. They played a great set list that had a wide range rolling out “Burnin” early on in the show, which is, of course, one of their biggest hits. Everyone knows the words and now it’s a party with double lead guitars. You could tell the band was really having a good time as they were feeding off the energetic crowd. At one point, the crowd starting chanting “Padres” as it was Opening Day, and being Mets fans, the band members tolerated it as they laughed it off which quickly fizzled out the San Diego enthusiasm. Btw, both teams won.
As they rolled through the setlist it was one surprise after another. I just closed my eyes and let it take me back—so freakin’ good! There were plenty of opportunities to dance the night away to down and dirty rock n roll! They threw down Godzilla with all three vocals with the crowd chiming in at the Godzilla part. The energy in the room was electric. They moved right into “The Reaper” for the finale, but the crowd went crazy and wasn’t going to let them go. These songs have truly stood the test of time. Their encore was off the charts! They ended the show on a very high note. More Cowbell?
By: 3rdEyeScribe / BackStage360
